The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-04-22

ne senate Csn.isses Investigating the
oaa1scs ~ Unasrvalunetoas - lmporsa
Aboss Ready q nspert-Ihsy VIII Rec
ommend Isglslasies - Cerrsee Ezlssias
Abuses
WAsHixorox. April r. The Senate
finance sub-committee on differentiation
OF imports- after nearly two years spent
In investigating the subject, are ABOUT
ready 70 submit = plan 70 remedy existing
abuses. senator Beck, . member Of the
committee. IN IN interview with Star
reporter, gave IN Insight into the difhcrlt
problem which has 20 long engaged the
attention OF tho committee. and Of the
proposed plan for the prevention Of IN
dervaluation: Senator Beck said:
1--WE had before W a immense mass Of
evidence, the statement Of experts sup
ported BY figurcs tho data collected BY
ourselves and by the departments. and all
the propositions that have been made 70
correct the abuses. Every bill thar
has been introduced into Con
grcss with relation 70 the su5
jcct has been carefully considered. ami
we are now endeavoring % formulate
. bill which will improve the entire sys-
ten II IL an immense question greater.
l think, than that Of the interstate CON-
UIIIlN anu LlWtN Mt11IAt& ~ A"8& WAN 40
one can have an idea what II liz until they
get into H. II affects our entire customs
system. the consular service and all tbs
business interests Of the country. There
il scramble among importers" Ne said.
.'toket the valuations - low - possible.
II one can get his goods IN cheaper than
his neigh bors, he can undersell them.
Thus there 10 . constant cut-throat game
going on that Affects prices all over the
country Exporters send their goods
here marked far below their
real value, and sell them in
bond. the transaction being conducted
on the other side. There II no uniformity
OF valuation Some merchants pay one
price. some another. for the same articles,
and those who pay less duty can under
sell the Others. And goods are rated
differently At different ports Then the
system OF merchants appraisers IS bad
You may set to-day an appraisement Of
goods for man who will tomorrow Be-
called upon 70 fx value on goods Of
yours. There il likely TO be tendency
between you 10 be liberal with each other.
II Is asserted that merchants accommc
date each other in their appraisements-
We have studied the matter care
fully. and think the most important
IuINK II 10 2t[uTt al 0MAA1I unity
Of valuation To have the valuation uni
form Is more important even than 70 have
Il Just We can not have the importer
paying immens. duties on Ia, Innings. for
instance. NJ one port while the importer
At another port pays merely nominal
duty. All the proper relations OF trade
are disturbed.
I'VE are through with our investigation
now. and in a few days VIII have meas
ure prepared. which we viii submit 20 the
Secretary 81 the Treasury for his opinion
We were gratifed yesterday. when Mr..
Mag0ne. the Collector Of the port Of New
York. was before us al the Capifo. - find
that his forty years experience with the
SUBJECT had led him 10 about the same
conclusions We had arrived att
The senator thus outlined the sub-com-
mitfee's plan:
The measure i not fully formulated.
but our idea Is 70 DO away with merchant
appraisers and 20 provide for the appoint
ment Of nine appraisers by the Govern
menf. three OF whom will be located per-
manently in New York City. The other
six will be in char &c of other ports- and
will make uniform sppraiscmcut-
The three appraisers ~ New York viii
act as sort Of board Of appeal
TO which questions in dispute will be car
ried The plan may include the construc-
sion Of government sample house where
the class ification ~ goods may be de-
tcrmined and uniformity OF valuations
secured We want also 10 improve the
consular service. 50 as 20 make u help
! 70 the customs service. instead Of him
| drancc. a. Il now H. We viii submit our
general plan 20 the Secretary Of
| the Treasury and to the collectors Of
| the ports Of Boston. New York and Phila-
I dclphia and others and will have the bill
1 ready TO present 70 the Serate - soon ~
| Congress meets The Senate wants 70 dc
all II can in the matter. We can not DO
(, any thing with the rates Of customs du-
| ties. though there are glazing defects
/. until the House takes the first step, but
! we can help the matter along BY the prep
y nrotfcn NJ fhis hill -